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Dodge Viper alive and well, Gilles says

Work continues on the next generation of the Dodge Viper supercar, and it will arrive around summer 2012, brand CEO Ralph Gilles told AutoWeek.

The car went out of production last year after an 18-year run in which it was largely unchanged but remained a favorite of enthusiasts with its racing-bred styling and 600-hp V10.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne closed a dealer presentation last fall with the reveal of a concept Viper, which several sources told AW carried an Italian theme.

Gilles declined to reveal specifics on what's in store for the next generation.

"My Dodge Viper is in training for the supercar Olympics; it's gone for a couple of years," he cracked at the Chicago auto show.

A common theme for the supercar emerged from Marchionne's presentation in Orlando, Fla. The Viper had a distinct Italian theme with an unmistakable American presence. Descriptions ranged from "beautiful" to "sexy with a lot of muscle" to "different" and, of course, "a classic."

Meanwhile, Gilles also touched on Dodge's other iconic coupe, the Challenger, in an interview with AW in Chicago. Clad in a "Made in Detroit" T-shirt and dark blazer, he said the muscle coupe would continue to evolve, but don't expect drastic changes. He compared it to the Jeep Wrangler, whose loyal fans want it to remain almost untouched. The original Challenger from the 1970s changed little during its brief run.

"I think styling is what people love about it," he said. "They almost don't want it to change."

Gilles also said feedback about the Detroit-centric Chrysler 200 commercial starring Eminem has been impressive.

"The response we're getting from the outside world is incredible," he said.